“But probably the area of their game that doesn’t get as much credit is their physicality, they are incredibly physical in the tackle area and the carry and at the breakdown.

“So you know that if you don’t match that, with the talent they’ve got across the pitch that it’s going to be tough. So you’ve got to gear up for that.

“And I don’t know that necessarily that injuries should be a part and parcel of that.

“Sometimes it happens you could have a week with a short turnaround, where you decided to do no contact and minimise training and someone will still pick something up. That’s what happens in professional rugby.

“Against New Zealand you’ve got to gear yourself up for a physical battle, because it’s what they bring.”

Leavy had been named in Ireland’s starting line-up despite still needing to prove his fitness in Friday’s captain’s run training session.

Schmidt would usually want all his players fit and training fully on a Thursday at the latest for a Saturday Test match, but had handed Leavy extra latitude.

Now though, with Sean O’Brien already out with a broken arm, Ireland have lost another openside in Leavy, with Van Der Flier stepping up to start.

Josh Van Der Flier will now face the All Blacks (Brian Lawless/PA)

Best hailed Van Der Flier’s quality in stepping up to replace Leavy, with Ireland’s impressive depth specifically at openside underscored by the ease of their late changes.

“Someone like Josh, you know he’s going to have been diligent regardless of where he’s been sat in the squad,” said Best.

“He will know his drills inside and out, so from our point of view it doesn’t change things massively.

“Because you’re replacing a quality player with two more quality players; one to start and one to come onto the bench.”